Summary
Cross war memorial, 1920.
Description
Cross war memorial, 1920.
MATERIALS: constructed from Portland stone.
PLAN: the memorial stands in St Ethelbert’s churchyard, approximately 10m west of the tower, in line with the axis of the church.
DESCRIPTION: the memorial comprises a cross with a tapering shaft on a rectangular plinth and a single-stepped base. The cross has a central circular boss containing a relief-moulded laurel wreath enclosing the monogram IHS.
The main inscription is on the west face of the shaft, in incised and painted lettering. It reads: RIP / 1914 / (NAME) / 1915 / (NAMES) / 1916 / (NAMES) /1917 / (NAMES) /1918 (NAMES), and on the plinth: IN PROUD AND AFFECTIONATE / REMEMBRANCE OF THE MEN / OF HESSETT / WHO DIED FOR THEIR COUNTRY / IN THE GREAT WAR.
History
The aftermath of the First World War saw the biggest single wave of public commemoration ever with tens of thousands of memorials erected across England. This was the result of both the huge impact on communities of the loss of three quarters of a million British lives, and the official policy of not repatriating the dead: memorials, therefore, provided the main focus of the grief felt at this great loss.
One such memorial was raised at Hessett as a permanent testament to the sacrifice made by the members of the local community who lost their lives in the First World War. The memorial was carved by AH Hanchet and Son, stonemasons, of Bury St Edmunds. It was unveiled on 3 October 1920 by General AL Schreiber and was restored and rededicated in November 2015.
Reasons for Listing
Hessett War Memorial, 1920, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Historic interest:
* as an eloquent witness to the tragic impact of world events on the local community, and the sacrifice it made in the conflicts of the C20.
Architectural interest:
* a well-executed example of a cross memorial which survives well.
Group value:
* aligned with the tower of the Grade I-listed Church of St Ethelbert, and part of an ensemble of listed churchyard structures.
External Links
External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.
Recommended Books
Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
Old House Handbook 2 Books Bundle Collection (Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair,Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability)
Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets